Sauce Communications owner Liane Sayer-Roberts and Southern Cotton general manager Kate O'Callaghan have been short-listed in their respective categories of business owner award and private and corporate sector award.

It's an achievement being lauded by the organisers of the awards, with all other finalists, bar one, coming from Sydney.

Mrs Sayer-Roberts is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her business and was excited by the nomination.

"Provided you are good at what you do, everything else is about the strength of your relationships," she said.

"I'm about long-term relationships and influence and that almost always involves demonstrating loyalty and going 'above and beyond'."

Telstra chief operations officer and awards ambassador Kate McKenzie said the Leeton shire finalists should be proud of the achievement.

"The diversity of our 2014 NSW finalists shines a light on Australian business women whose innovations and leadership are changing the industries and communities around them," she said.

"The awards have uncovered stories of amazing business women at all stages in their careers.

"Finalists join a long list of incredible alumni who have inspired us with their individual achievements and done so much collectively for the promotion of women in the Australian business world."

It's not the first time Mrs Sayer-Roberts and Mrs O'Callaghan have received accolades together after both were named in the Top 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness earlier this year.

"Being acknowledged as a finalist is somewhat surreal," Mrs O'Callaghan said.

"To be honest, I never expected to make it to this level ... I feel so humble and proud to be named among such respected business women."

Winners of the wards will be announced on October 24, with the state winners to proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on November 26.